Data specifications

Definition: The percentage of adults aged 18 and older drinking in excess of Canada’s Low Risk Alcohol Guidelines for cancer

Rationale for measurement: Understanding rates of alcohol consumption across the country can indicate the level of adherence to low-risk drinking guidelines and the effectiveness of prevention strategies to limit excessive alcohol consumption.

Measurement timeframe: Years 2015-16 combined

Denominator: Total population aged 18 years and older

Numerator: Includes:

Men who consumed averagely more than 2 drinks per day in the past 7 days prior to the survey

Women who consumed averagely more than 1 drinks per day in the past 7 days prior to the survey

Data were based on a representative sample and was extrapolated to the overall population.

Canada’s Low Risk Alcohol Drinking Guidelines for cancer recommends males should not exceed 15 drinks a week, with no more than 2 drinks a day on most days; women should not exceed 10 drinks a week, without no more than 1 drinks a day on most day.

Due to the feasibility of survey questions about alcohol consumption, an average daily alcohol consumption in the week prior to the survey interview is used as a proxy measure of exceeding the alcohol consumption guidelines, which is calculated using total number of weekly drinks the respondent reported consuming in the week prior to the survey interview, divided by 7 days.

A “drink” refers to:

a bottle or small can of beer, cider or cooler with 5% alcohol content, or a small draft

a glass of wine with 12% alcohol content

a glass or cocktail containing 1½ oz. of a spirit with 40% alcohol content